[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6700-S6701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. ENZI (for himself and Mr. Barrasso):
S. 2039. A bill to designate the mountain at the Devils Tower
National Monument, Wyoming, as Devils Tower, and for other purposes; to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I wish to speak on the introduction of
legislation which designates the mountain and populated place at Devils
Tower National Monument as Devils Tower. This is legislation I am
introducing today with the support of Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming
and in conjunction with Representative Cynthia Lummis who is
introducing this same measure in the House.
Devils Tower National Monument is not an ordinary national treasure.
There are approximately 117 national monuments, but Devils Tower has
the distinction as being America's first national monument. Established
by President Theodore Roosevelt on September 24, 1906, Devils Tower
National Monument preserves the unique geologic, cultural, and
aesthetic values of this breathtaking feature.
Devils Tower has a rich cultural history, and has many meanings to
different cultures, including the many peoples and Native American
tribes that have historical and geographic ties to Northeastern
Wyoming. The Geographic Names Information System, GNIS, prepared by the
U.S. Geological Survey, USGS, acknowledges there are sixteen documented
variant names to Devils Tower. Documents submitted to the U.S. Board on
Geographic Names cite approximately 94 different published names for
Devils Tower. Meanwhile, official Federal records indicate the name
Devils Tower has existed for over 130 years.
This is why I am glad there was an opportunity for public comment and
debate on the most recent petition to rename Devils Tower. The results
of that 5 month public comment period demonstrated there is strong
support from the community and local officials to retain the Devils
Tower name for the geologic feature, the populated place, and the
National Monument.
Now that there has been an opportunity to hear comments about the
most recent petition to rename Devils Tower, the Wyoming congressional
delegation is introducing this legislation to preserve the Devils Tower
name for the feature, populated place, and for America's first national
monument. We also encourage the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, U.S.
Department of Interior, and the President to suspend any additional
consideration on the petition to rename the features at Devils Tower
National Monument.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter of support be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Crook County
Board of Commissioners,
Sundance, WY, September 11, 2015.
In 1868, the Wyoming Territory was created. In 1885, Crook
County was created. In 1890, the Territory of Wyoming
obtained statehood. In 1906, the first national monument,
Devils Tower, was established. The United States was the
first country in the world to set aside its most significant
places
[[Page S6701]]
as national park units so they could be enjoyed by all.
Over the centuries, many people have passed through or have
inhabited the region now known as Crook County. The many
Native American tribes who were in the area called the summit
different names over time. By establishing the summit and the
surrounding grounds as Devils Tower National Monument, the
decision was made as to its official name.
The Crook County Commission would like to submit comments
from the public it began to solicit since March 2015. A
survey was developed and was inserted in the local
newspapers, put on Crook County's website and each
Commissioner hand delivered comment sheets throughout the
county to the area businesses and town halls. We received
comments from within the County and from around the world. As
of August 3, 2015, we have received 954 comments about the
summit: 34 approve the name change and 886 oppose the name
change. For changing the name of the settlement called Devils
Tower, we received 953 comments: 37 for the name change and
855 against it.
Crook County citizens believe the Tower is special. There
is evidence that organized gatherings have taken place at the
Tower since the first recorded climb of the Tower July 4,
1893. Citizens urged State and Federal officials to recognize
the importance of this landmark and pressed for improved
roads to the Tower in the early 1900's. Since then, the Tower
has been the site of numerous weddings, reunions, picnics,
school outings and other important life events. Always, the
Tower has been referred to with reverence. It is always
called ``Devils Tower'' or ``the Tower''. We are not aware of
any pet name or slang references used by local citizens. One
definition of the word, ``sacred'', in Webster's Dictionary
means ``worthy of respect''. By that definition, Devils Tower
is sacred.
If the name is changed to ``Bear Lodge'', it will diminish
the uniqueness of the site. This special place deserves more
than a generic name. There is already the Bear Lodge
Mountains east of the Monument. There is a rare earths mine
being built in the Bear Lodge Mountains called the Bear Lodge
Project. There is Bear Butte in Meade County, SD which is
reportedly a sacred site to some Native Americans. By having
so many places with ``Bear'' already in its name, it creates
confusion for the over 400,000 annual visitors who come
specifically to northeast Wyoming to see Devils Tower.
Records show the name Devils Tower has existed officially
for over 130 years. In the Bureau of Land Management
Cadastral Survey Land Plats dated August 24, 1883, it is
indicated that the summit was named Devils Tower. This is
based upon field notes from 1881 and 1882. Those field notes
dated July 23, 1883 state ``A prominent land mark is a high
peak in Section 7 called Devils Tower''.
Today is not the time to debate whether the site is sacred
to some tribes or not. Anecdotal evidence exists that some
tribes did avoid the area due to the ``bad gods''. Please see
some of the comments submitted. For example, the Campstool
Ranch was established by Lady Grace Esme MacKenzie in 1881.
``The location of the ranch near the base of Devils Tower was
chosen not due to its scenery but because the Native
Americans were scared of it and would not go near it''. This
was in 1881. The Battle of the Little Bighorn was June 1876
and the Indian Wars continued until 1918.
We do not believe that all elders, leaders and individual
tribal members find the name of the summit highly offensive,
insulting, etc., as stated in the petition. There is an
organization called Devils Tower Sacred to Many People whose
mailing address is Devils Tower, Wyoming which owns land near
the Tower. This federally recognized non-profit exists to
benefit the Native Americans who live on reservations. The
international monetary supports this organization receives
show many people recognize the name Devils Tower. The Native
artists who sell their wares to the organization recognize
the name also and support their efforts.
We do not believe the summit was given its name purposely
due to white people finding cultural and faith traditions
practiced by Native Americans ``evil''. It was the name
commonly used by the people who lived in the area. That is
why one name was chosen for the summit and for the National
Monument. Many tribes have their own historic name for the
Tower. The United States Board on Geographic Names Case Brief
cites approximately 94 different published names for Devils
Tower. We do not believe that over twenty tribes who have
potential cultural affiliation with the Tower have reached a
consensus to support the proposal of one name for the summit.
We believe each tribe will continue to use their traditional
name for the Tower and Wyoming natives will do the same.
Devils Tower has always been open to anyone to use as a
respectful place to carry on their own traditions and we
expect it to remain that way. The Tower can be shared by all.
The Crook County Commission questions what significant or
historic benefit will be advanced by changing the name of the
summit located at Devils Tower National Monument? Will the
name change proposed by the petitioners benefit many, just a
few, or will it cause more dissention? Therefore: We request
the Wyoming Board on Geographic Names and the United States
Board on Geographic Names retain the name of the summit as
Devils Tower.
We question why the settlement of Devils Tower is being
petitioned for change. There is a United States Post Office
there and we have not received a recommendation from the USPS
for a name change. Records show that particular Post Office
has been in existence since 1925. Reading some of the
comments we received from our Wyoming natives, we ask ``How
can people who do not even live in the area propose a name
change to a populated place?'' Numerous comments from the
people who have Devils Tower as their mailing address mention
the unnecessary distress of changing the name of their
business and changing their address on passports, official
documents and just receiving mail and packages.
Crook County received 855 comments to retain the name of
the settlement of Devils Tower. Again we ask: what
significant or historic benefit will be advanced by changing
the name of the settlement? A name change should be proposed
by the citizens it would most affect. Therefore, we request
the name of the settlement be retained as Devils Tower,
Wyoming.
Sincerely,
Kelly B. Dennis,
Chairman.
Jeanne A. Whalen,
Vice-Chairwoman.
Steve J. Stahla,
Member.
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